The State Minister of Finance (General Duties) Henry Musasizi has tasked District Security Officials to Investigate cases of alleged fraud and extension in the the Parish Development Model- PDM.
Hon. Musasizi who doubles as the Rubanda East MP and NRM Chairperson Rubanda District was yesterday speaking at the Ceremony to officially open the Newly Constructed Bulimbe Catholic Church in Ikumba Subcounty, Rubanda District.
The PDM Program was initiated by Government to uplift standards of the 39% Ugandans stuck in the Subsistence economy, and Government has so far sent trillions of shillings in the program implementation . However, Minister Musasizi said that cases of fraud and extension had been reported in a number of Districts, including Bushyenyi and Sembabule.
He also noted that they had received reports about beneficiaries facing extortion from authorities tasked with management and implementation of the PDM Program.
“I was recently in Bushenyi, and I found out that some PDM Funds were distributed to Non-existent beneficiaries. I have heard of authorities asking for bribes from PDM Beneficiaries, including here (in Greater Kabale), and this all must stop,” Musasizi said, adding that he was instructing security officials to carry out investigation about the alleged fraud, and extortion.
The Minister also expressed concern that some Ugandans had indeed received PDM Loans, but they had nothing to present in correspondence to the support they received. He asked Commercial Officers, Parish Chiefs and other PDM authorities to guide the beneficiaries and always make follow up on performance on the ground.
Minister Musasizi revealed that up to Ug. Shs. 13 billion had been released to Rubanda District alone for the Parish Development Model in two financial years.
Meanwhile, Musasizi hailed the Christians of Bulimbe Catholic Church for working together to raise a magnificent Church, the second biggest and most beautiful after Rubanda Catholic Parish Church, also in Ikumba Subcounty.
He gave special thanks to prominent businessmen and sons of the late Peter Kamunyu for contributing the largest amount of funds for construction of the Church. The three brothers; Posiano, Akamwesi and Willy Byandusya are credited for contributing the biggest percentage of the funds that facilitated construction of Bulimbe Catholic Church.
In his sermon, the Kabale Diocese Bishop Callistus Rubaramira who presided over the opening ceremony, urged the Christians of Bulimbe Catholic Church to use the Newly commissioned Church building for it’s holy purposes.
“Do not use this building for unholy issues, but rather use it for it’s rightful purpose which is glorifying God.”
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